Jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus

ABSTRACT

A table especially adapted for use in the assembly of jigsaw puzzles is described. The table comprises a horizontal planar surface or top supported by four legs. Attached to the top are a pair of leafs or piece trays. The piece trays are attached in a manner such that they remain parallel to the top when moved outwardly with respect to the top. In addition, covers are provided for covering the piece trays. When the piece trays are moved inwardly so that they overlie the top; the covers are attached; and, the legs folded, the puzzle assembly table is collapsed to a size convenient for storage. When thusly collapsed, the lower surface of the piece trays maintain the assembled portion of the puzzle in its assembled state while the covers retain the unassembled jigsaw puzzle pieces firmly in the piece trays.

[451 Feb. 19, 1974 JIGSAW PUZZLE ASSEMBLY APPARATUS [76] Inventor:Priscilla B. Ward, Rt. 1, Box 197,

Westover, Md. 21871 22 Filed: Apr. 18, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 245,152

[52] US. Cl 108/69, 108/99, 108/102, 273/157 [51] Int. Cl A47b 25/00[58] Field of Search 108/89, 90, 63, 34, 99, 72, 108/102; 273/157 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,464,833 8/1923 Ringler 108/991,445,566 2/1923 Stoll 108/34 X 2,727,799 12/1955 Keal 108/102 1,987,4961/1935 Springborn 273/157 R 3,504,915 4/1970 Walker 273/157 R FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 744,442 l/l933 France 108/69 PrimaryExaminer-Francis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or FirmGriffin, Branigan andButler [57] ABSTRACT A table especially adapted for use in the assemblyof jigsaw puzzles is described. The table comprises a horizontal planarsurface or top supported by four legs. Attached to the top are a pair ofleafs or piece trays. The piece trays are attached in amanner such thatthey remain parallel to the top when moved outwardly with respect to thetop. In addition, covers are provided for covering the piece trays. Whenthe piece trays are moved inwardly so that they overlie the top; thecovers are attached; and, the legs folded, the puzzle assembly table iscollapsed to a size convenient for storage. When thusly collapsed, thelower surface of the piece trays maintain the assembled portion of thepuzzle in its assembled state while the covers retain the unassembledjigsaw puzzle pieces firmly in the piece trays.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEOFEB 1 9 I974 SHEEI 1 0F 2 FIG. 1

JIGSAW PUZZLE ASSEMBLY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to assembly tables and more particularly to anassembly table especially adapted for use in the assembly of jigsawpuzzles.

A popular leisure-time activity is the assembly of jigsaw puzzles. Ajigsaw puzzle is formed of a plurality of pieces, usually made ofcardboard, cut in irregular patterns. When the pieces are assembled inthe correct manner, they interlock together and display a scene orpicture. Thus, they are also known as picture puzzles.

In the past jigsaw puzzles have been assembled on any suitablehorizontal surface, such as a kitchen or dining room table, or a cardtable. While such tables are suitable for assemblying jigsaw puzzles,they have certain disadvantages. For example, it frequently takesseveral hours to assemble jigsaw puzzles, even if several peopele areassisting in the assembly. Thus, it is often necessary to assemble thepuzzle during different, separated periods of time. If such is the case,obviously, it is inconvenient to assemble the puzzle on a dining room orkitchen table because those tables must be used for other purposes. Inaddition, it is inconvenient to assemble the puzzle on a card table ifspace is limtied, such as in a house trailer, for example. Thus, in thepast, it has been often necessary to break up a partially assembledpuzzle in order to utilize the surface on which it is being assembledfor other purposes. When this situation occurs, the broken up puzzlemust be reassembled at a later date. Consequently, it is desirable tohave a table that is especially adapted for the assembly of jigsawpuzzles. It is also desirable to have a table that can store a partiallyassembled jigsaw puzzle without requiring that it be broken up prior tostorage.

Therefor, it is an object of this invention to provide a puzzle assemblyapparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedassembly table especially adapted for the assembly of jigsaw puzzles.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a jigsawassembly table that is suitable for storing a partially assembled jigsawpuzzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with principlesof this inventiona jigsaw puzzle assembly table is provided. The table generallycomprises a horizontal planar surface or top. Preferably the top issupported by four legs which collapse in a manner similar to the way thelegs of a card table collapse. At least one leaf or piece tray isattached to the top in a manner such that it lies atop when in a closedposition and extends outwardly from the top when in an open position.Movement of the piece tray from a closed position to an open position isperformed in a manner such that the piece tray always lies in a planethat is parallel to the plane of the top. The piece tray provides areceptacle suitable for storing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle prior toassembly, the puzzle being assembled on the upper surface of the top.

In accordance with other principles of this invention, a pair of piecetrays are provided and attached to the top by parallel bars whichmaintain the piece trays in planes parallel to the plane of the topduring movement between open and closed positions.

In accordance with further principles of this invention, covers areprovided and used to cover the piece trays in a manner such that jigsawpuzzle pieces lying in the piece trays are firmly retained therein whenthe covers are attached. In addition, the piece trays are formed suchthat their lower surfaces press against a partially assembled puzzlelying on. the upper surface of the top in a manner such that thepartially assembled puzzle is rigidly pressed against the: upper surfaceof the top. Thus, when the assembly table is collapsed and stored thepuzzle pieces are held immobile. Further, a variety of hooks and clipsare provided to maintain the piece trays and the covers in the desiredpositions during storage.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing summary that a novel jigsawpuzzle assembly table is provided by the invention. The puzzle assemblytable is formed such that a puzzle can be partially assembled on a mainhorizontal planar surface or top. The partially assembled puzzle can bemaintained in its assembled position by moving piece trays to a closedposition where they overlie the top. In addition, puzzle pieces lying inthe piece trays are maintained snuggly in position by the use of covers.Thus, both the partially assembled puzzle and the pieces are fixedlyretained when the overall table is closed". The overall table can thenbe collapsed for ease of storage without the partially assembled puzzleor puzzle pieces moving from their housed positions. Hence, theinvention overcomes the two prior art problems discussed above. Morespecifically, the puzzle does not have to be disassembled prior tostorage. In addition, the assembly table can be reduced to a relativelysmall size for easy storage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects and many of theattendant advantages of this invention will become better appreciatedfrom the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a puzzle assembly table formedin accordance with the invention with the piece trays in a closedposition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a puzzle assembly table of the typeillustrated in FIG. 1 entirely closed for storage;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a puzzle assembly table of thetype illustrated in FIG. 1 with the piece trays shown closed and thecovers shown removed;

FIG. 4 is a partially perspective view of a puzzle assembly table of thetype illustrated in FIG. 1 with the piece trays partially open;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the piece trays in the positionillustrated in FIG. 4'; and,

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the piece trays in their fullopen position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawingswherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout theseveral views, the figures illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention and are organized such that they illustrate the preferredembodiment of the invention in a closed, open or partially openconfiguration.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention whichcomprises a horizontal planar surface or top 11 supported by four legs13 shown extended downwardly. As illustrated by the dashed line, thelegs 13 can be folded toward the top, in the manner that the legs of acard table fold, to provide a compact collapsed structure of the typeillustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the top 11 comprises a rectangularplanar surface 15 surrounded by four edge strips 17 which are raisedabove the rectangular planar surface 15. As illustrated in FIG. 6, theplanar surface 15 is suitable for supporting an assembled or partiallyassembled jigsaw puzzle 19.

First and second piece trays 21 and 23 are attached to a parallel pairof the edge strips 17, surrounding the planar surface 15 forming the top11, by sets of parallel bars 25. More specifically, each piece tray 21and 23 is formed of a planar surface 29 surrounded by four edge strips27. Certain of the edge strips 27 of the two piece trays 21 and 23 arearrayed such that they are aligned with and lie atop the upper surfaceof the edge strips 17 surrounding the rectangular planar surface 15.Thus, the entire top 11 is covered by the piece trays 21 and 23. Theedge strips 27 and piece tray planar surfaces 29 are attached such thatwells are formed in which jigsaw puzzle pieces 31 can be arrayed.

The edge strips 27 of the piece trays 27 located adjacent to a pair ofparallel edge strips 17 forming part of the top 11 are attached theretoby the parallel bars 25. More specifically, each piece tray, asillustrated in the drawing covers one-half of the top 11. Thus, a pairof parallel edge strips of each piece tray are adjacent to a pair ofparallel edge strips of the top. These adjacent edge strips are attachedto one another by parallel bars a pair of bars on either side of eachpiece tray. This parallel bar arrangement allows the piece tray 21 and23 to be moved outwardly from a closed position (FIG. 1, 2 and 3) to anopen position (FIG. 6) with the upper surface of the piece trays beingmaintained parallel to the upper surface of the top during the entireperiod of movement (FIGS. 4 and 5).

Located on the underside of each piece tray 21 and 23 is a pad 33 (FIG.5). The edge of the pads are setback from the edges of the piece trays21 and 23 in a manner such that they fit inside of the edge strips 17 ofthe top 11 when the piece trays lie atop of the top. When in this closedposition, the pads press tightly against the assembled or partiallyassembled puzzle 19 to thereby fixedly retain the puzzle in thisposition. Thus, a partially assembled puzzle is fixedly retained inposition when the jigsaw puzzle assembly table of the invention isentirely collapsed to the compact state illustrated in FIG. 2. In thecollapsed state, the table is suitable for easy storage. Moreover,because of previously described position retaining function provided bythe invention, the collapsed table does not have to be maintained in ahorizontal plane during storage, rather, the table can be stored withthe top lying in a vertical plane.

The sets of parallel bars are locked in the open or closed positions byclips 35 which slip over the parallel bars when they are in either thefull open or full closed positions. The clips prevent the sets ofparallel bars from separating from one another as occurs when the piecetrays are moved from the open position to the closed position and viceversa (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

Covers 37, formed of planar members 39, are utilized to enclose thewells in the piece trays 21 and 23. More specifically, the covers 37, inaddition to the planar members 39 include pads 41 affixed to their lowersurfaces but set-back there from. More specifically, the planar membersand pads making up the covers are formed such that the edges of theplanar members coincide with the edges of the edge strips 27 of thepiece trays when the covers lie atop the piece trays. The pads 41 fitdown into the wells in the piece trays and press against the jigsawpuzzle pieces 31 lying in the piece trays in the same manner that thepads 33 located beneath the piece trays press against the partiallyassembled puzzle 19.

Catch pins 43 attached to the undersurface of the planar surface 37forming part of the covers coact with catch receptacles 45 attached inthe wells of the piece trays 21 in a manner such that the covers areaffixed in place when they lie atop the piece trays 21 and 23. Thecatches may take on any suitable form. For example, they may be catchesof the type used to retain cupboard doors closed. In other words, theycan be mechanical catches or they may be magnetic catches. In addition,a pair of hooks 47 attach the covers 37 to gether where they join oneanother. Further hooks 49 attach the piece trays 21 and 23 to the top 11when the piece trays are in this closed position. Finally, U-shapedclips 51 that fit over the junction between the covers 37 and the lowersurface of the rail 17 of the top 11 are used to assist in maintainingthe overall system closed during storage. In addition, if desired, asuitable zippered cloth cover (not shown) can be used to cover theoverall collapsed jigsaw puzzle assembly table during storage. That is,when the puzzle assembly table is entirely collapsed as illustrated inFIG. 2 a suitable cloth cover can be utilized to enclose the table andfurther prevent the table from opening. In addition, the cover willprevent the table from being nicked or scratched during storage as wellas prevent the table from nicking or scratching something else. Finally,a handle 53 is attached to the overall structure at a suitable point toallow it to be carried in the manner an attache case is carried.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description of a preferredembodiment of the invention that a jigsaw puzzle assembly table isprovided. The assembly table is easily collapsed into a state that issuitable for storage. In addition, a partially assembled puzzle can bestored without the puzzle breaking apart either through the intentionaloperations of the puzzle assemblers or because of the physicalcharacteristics of the table. That is, a partially assembled puzzle, asillustrated in FIG. 6, is firmly held in position when the piece traysare closed to the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Moreover,pieces lying in the piece trays are fixedly held in position by thecovers 37 when they are closed in the manner illustrated in FIGS. and 2.Thus, both the pieces and the partially assembled jigsaw puzzle areprevented from movement during storage, even if the jigsaw puzzleassembly table is stored in the vertical position illustrated in FIG. 2.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and othersthat various modifications can be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. For example, if it is desired torest the assembly apparatus on another horizontal surface, such as atable, for example, the legs may be eliminated. Alternatively, the legsmay be reduced in length if it is desired to rest the assembly apparatuson another horizontal surface but raised therefrom, such as about apatients body in a hospital bed, for example. Moreover, the legs may beslightly shorter in the front than in the rear if desired so as to allowthe patient to more easily view the puzzle from a reclining position.Hence, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed herein.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

I claim:

1. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus comprising:

an assembly surface having a pad thereon suitable for supporting ajigsaw puzzle in a horizontal plane during assembly;

a flat piece-tray means suitable for supporting jigsaw puzzle pieces ona top surface thereof, said piecetray means comprising two pads, one padbeing located on a bottom surface thereof; and,

an attachment means for attaching said piece-tray means to said assemblysurface in a manner such that said piece-tray means is movable between aclosed position where it lies atop said assembly surface with saidbottom surface of said piece-tray contacting said assembly surface whilesaid top sur face of said piece-tray means is for supporting said jigsawpuzzle pieces, and an open position, where it is separated from, butadjacent to, said assembly surface and where said top surface thereof isstill for supporting puzzle pieces, said attaching means comprising atleast two sets of parallel bars attaching said piece-tray to saidassembly surface in such a manner that said piece-tray means ismaintained parallel to said assembly surface while said piecetray meansis moved between said closed and open positions, said piece-tray meansbeing formed such that when said piece-tray means is in said closedposition a partially assembled puzzle is fixedly between said pad on thebottom surface of said piece tray means and the pad on said assemblysurface. 2. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim itwherein:

claim 2 including four legs collapsably attached to said assemblysurface.

41.. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 3 includingclosure means for maintaining said piece trays in said closed position.

5. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including:

two covers, each of said covers being suitable for enclosing the tops ofsaid piece trays in a manner such that jigsaw puzzle pieces lying insaid piece trays are fixedly held in said piece trays when said coversare enclosing the tops of said piece trays; and attachment means forreleasably attaching said covers to said piece trays. 6. A jigsaw puzzleassembly apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including four legs collapsablyattached to said assembly surface.

'7. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 6 includingclosure means for maintaining said piece trays in said closed position.

b. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 4 includingfour legs collapsably attached to said assembly surface.

9. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinthere are at least two piece-tray means, and two attaching means forattaching said piece-tray means to said assembly surface.

1. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus comprising: an assembly surface having a pad thereon suitable for supporting a jigsaw puzzle in a horizontal plane during assembly; a flat piece-tray means suitable for supporting jigsaw puzzle pieces on a top surface thereof, said piece-tray means comprising two pads, one pad being located on a bottom surface thereof; and, an attachment means for attaching said piece-tray means to said assembly surface in a manner such that said piece-tray means is movable between a closed position where it lies atop said assembly surface with said bottom surface of said piece-tray contacting said assembly surface while said top surface of said piece-tray means is for supporting said jigsaw puzzle pieces, and an open position, where it is separated from, but adjacent to, said assembly surface and where said top surface thereof is still for supporting puzzle pieces, said attaching means comprising at least two sets of parallel bars attaching said piece-tray to said assembly surface in such a manner that said piece-tray means is maintained parallel to said assembly surface while said piece-tray means is moved between said closed and open positions, said piece-tray means being formed such that when said piece-tray means is in said closed position a partially assembled puzzle is fixedly held between said pad on the bottom surface of said piece-tray means and the pad on said assembly surface.
 2. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said assembly surface comprises a rectangular planar surface surrounded by four rails; and each of said piece trays comprises a rectangular planar surface surrounded by four rails, the rectangular surfaces of said piece trays being approximately one-half the size of the rectangular surface of said assembly surface.
 3. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including four legs collapsably attached to said assembly surface.
 4. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including closure means for maintaining said piece trays in said closed position.
 5. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including: two covers, each of said covers being suitable for enclosing the tops of said piece trays in a manner such that jigsaw puzzle pieces lying in said piece trays are fixedly held in said piece trays when said covers are enclosing the tops of said piece trays; and attachment means for releasably attaching said covers to said piece trays.
 6. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including four legs collapsably attached to said assembly surface.
 7. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including closure means for maintaining said piece trays in said closed position.
 8. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including four legs collapsably attached to said assembly surface.
 9. A jigsaw puzzle assembly apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least two piece-tray means, and two attaching means for attaching said piece-tray means to said assembly surface. 